Bailer



May 24, 1938.v P CAVlNS 2,118,458

l BAILER Filed Aug. 22, 1935 2 sheetssheet 1 P. cAvlNs 2,118,458

BAILER May 24, 1938.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1935 Patented May 24, 1938 I.UNITED lSTATES PATENT OFFICE 'I'he present invention relates to bailers, and particularly a bailer of the-suction type wherein sand and other material which it is desired lto remove from the well is drawn into the sand chamber by suction created by the relatively sudden discharge of uid from the sand chamber into the suction chamber.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a bailer which is of relatively simple c'onstruction, and which may be formed from standard stock tubing ttings and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bailer which is positive in its operation, and which is not likely to become jammed or frozen.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bailer in which major communication between the sand chamber and the suction chamber does not exist until an interval of time after the bailer shoe has struck well bottom or a major obstruction in the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bailer which is self-unloading,A and having means to insure that the bailer will not remain jammed in loaded condition after the same is re moved from the well.

In the drawings, which arev illustrative of several forms of the invention, and in no sense restrictive,

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view ofthe assembled bailer of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the valve assembly of my invention', showing the. Valve in closed position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the valve assembly of my invention, showing the valve in open position; n

Fi'gure'4 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 ofFigure 2, showing the type of relief valve used wherever needed on the bailer.

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along the lines 5- 5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the bailer in vertical section, showing the bailer shoe and means for regulating the flow and direction of ow of the sand charge into the sand chamber.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are vertical cross sectional views of modied forms of my invention.

Figure 10 is a horizontal cross' sectional view alongthe line I Il-I I) of Figure 7, and

Figure 11 is a horizontal cross sectional view along vthe line I I-II of Figure 8.

In Figure '1, my invention is shown incor poratednfa bailer of the type which is adapted to be .connected to a line and lowered into a well to remove sand and the like therefrom by suction. 'I'he bailer generally comprises a closed,V

substantially air-tight suction chamber, asand chamber having a shoe attached at the lower end thereof, and a valve mechanism for controlling communication between said chambers.

'I'he bailer is suspended from a suitableI line by a top connecting ring ,or'eye I2 which is carried by a threaded member I0, which is screwed upon the upper end of the top sub I. The top sub I has a lower threaded extension which is threaded to the upper end of a tube 2, the latter being substantially twenty feet in length and forming the suction chamber 3. 'I'he top sub I is bored as at 4 to form a passage connecting at its lower end with the suction chamber 3, said bore being closed at its upper end but provided with a suitable aperture 5 to receive a relief valve of the type shown in-Figure 4.

The sand chamber is designated by the numeral l2|), and is vformed by-a barrel comprising -apertures 26' in its side wall, the degree ofopening of said apertures being adjustable by.

means of the vertically slidable covers 29, as shown in Figure 6. The lower end of the connector 24 is extended downwardly as at 21 to form a sleeve within the tube 25, and tube 25 is equipped with outlet openings 28 adapted to be aligned with corresponding openings in the liner 21. The usual sand retaining ap valve 30 is mounted above the shoe but below the outlet openings 23.

In order to insure thatthe pressure within the sand chamber does not become extreme when the bailer is being withdrawn from the well, a relief valve 5 such as is shown in Figure 4 is mounted in a threaded opening 3I in the wall of the tube 2|, which tube forms a portion of the sandchamber. Y, 'f

The upper end of the tube 2l is threaded to the lower end of a connecting element 33, the threaded portion of said element extending down into the tube 2| as at 34, providing an interior bushing or valve member for a purpse which will later appear. The lower end of thelbushing 34 s bevelled upwardly and inwardly from the tube The connecting element 33 is provided with a bore 33 to receive a sleeve 31, said sleeve forming an interior telescoping member for cooperation with an exterior telescoping ymember 33, the latter being a tube threaded at.its upper end to the lower end of the hollow sub 39. The upper end of the hollow sub 3S is threaded to the lower end of the suction chamber 2.

'Ihe sub 39 has an interior threaded bore 40 at its lower end, in which is secured the upper end of a hollow rod 4i, said rod extending downwardly through tube 33, sleeve 31, element 33 and the bushing 34, and terminating at its lower end in a piston portion 4l and an enlarged portion 42, said portions constituting a valve member. The upper end of the enlarged portion 42 is bevelled upwardly and inwardly from its outside surface to form a valve seat 35 (Figure 3) for cooperation with the valve seat 35.

To cushion the telescopic action of the tube sections 31 and 38, a spring 44 is mounted between the sub 39 and the upper end of the tube 31, said spring surrounding the hollow rod 4| and being within the tube section 38. The tube section 33 is provided with suitable ports to relieve any pressure which may be caused by the telescoping action.

Spring 44 also tends to hold the sections 31 and 33 apart and thus to maintain the valve in closed position.

The lower end of the hollow rod 4l is provided with a helical series of fluid apertures 46, which extend into the interior of said rod, the interior of said rod constituting a passage 41 leading to the suction chamber 3. The lowermost of the uid apertures 46 is disposed a predetermined distance above the valve seat 35', so that a definite interval will transpire between the time when the bailer shoe hits well bottom or a maior obstruction in the well, and when major communication will exist between the sand chamber 2li and the passage 41 leading Ato the suction chamber. Major communication will Vexist between the chambers when one or more of the apertures 46 moves below the valve seat 35.

Within the lower part of the bore 33', a suitable packing 43 is provided around the hollow rod 4l. This packing is held in place and is com pressed by the sleeve 31, said sleeve being forced downwardly by the action of the spring 44. While this packing servesl to insure against fluid leakage upwardly around the hollow rod 4l, the relatively loose t of the sleeve 31 within the bore 33 will provide a relief valve which will operate if the bailer becomes jammed at well bottom and if the other relief valves fail to function.

In Figures l and 2, the bailer is shown in the position which it will assume as Ait is being lowered into the well. It will be noted that as the bailer is being lowered into the well, the sand chamber is. suspended from the suction chamber, the point of suspension being where the seat 35' of the valve member 42 encounters the seat 35 of the bushing or valve member 34. When the bailer is in this condition, the suction chamber 3 is sealed at its lower end by the valve and at its upper end by the sub I, the chamber thus being air-tight and at substantially atmospheric pressure.

By reason of the fact that the weight of the sand chamber is `carried where seat 35 encounters seat 35, it is obvious that the valve member 42 will be held tightly against the valve 2l to provide a valve seat 35, as is most clearlx/r,y 'disclosed in Figure 3.

member 34 to seal the iluid way between the suction and sand chambers, and there is little possibility of jars caused by minor obstructions encountered by the shoe in the well tube moving the valve members relatively to one another to break the seal. Even if an obstruction in the well at a point lwhere it is not desired to draw sand is encountered with such force as to break the seal, a major flow of fluid from. the suction chamber to the sand chamber will not be permitted, by reason of the fact'that the lower end or piston 4I' of the rod 4i ts tightly enough withinthe bushing or valve member 34 to materially restrict fiow of fluid through the passage provided by the bushing. It will further be noted that before premature major opening of the fluid way can result, it will be necessary not only to break the seal provided by the valve members 34 and 4 2, but in addition the suction chamber must move downwardly a suicient distance to position the initial fluid aperture 46 below the edge of the seat 35. Furthermore, as the bailer is being lowered into the well, the pressure exerted by the spring 44 also tends to assist the pressure in the sand chamber in maintaining the valve in sealed condition.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided bailer which insures against premature opening of lthe suction-sand chamber uid way. It may be said that this fluid way is controlled by a primary and a secondary valve, the primary valve being constituted by the sealing surfaces 35 and 35', and a secondary valve being formed by the cooperation of th'e piston portion 4| of the hollow rod 4l andthe apertures 48. with the interior surface of the bushing 34.

When the bailer shoe strikes well bottom or a major obstruction in the well. the sand chamber,

including the tube 2| and the attached bushing or valve member 34. will be suddenly arrested in its downward movement. This will cause a slackening of the tension on the lowering line. thus permitting the suction chamber to move downwardly by its own weight.

When the suction chamber moves downwardly, the seal provided by the seating surfaces 35 and 35 will rst be broken, followed by an interval during which the piston 4I' will restrict the upward passage of fluid through the iiuid way formed by the bushing 34. During this movement, some of the fluid which passes upwardly between the inner surface of the bushing 34 and the surface of the piston 4i will pass in through the apertures 48 into the suction chamber 41. If the bailer has struck well bottom, and the bailer shoe has embedded itself into the sand, the sand chamber 20 will be closed at its lower end, but will be in slight communication with the suction chamber when the seal providedvby the engaging surfaces 35 and 35 is broken. That is, when the hollow rod 4I begins to move downwardly, some uid will pass between the surface of the piston 4I' and the inner surface of the bushing 34 even befgrsesthe lowermost port 46 gets below the valve sea bedded in the sand, the lower end of the sand chamber 20 will be closed, and this initial flow of fluid from the sand to the suction chamber will,

As stated above, if the bailer shoe is eml 2,118,458 top of .the bailer, which is the well pressure, will remain the same, and therefore there will be a pressure difference which will tend to move the hollow rod downwardly to effect a major opening of the uid way.

When the lowermost fluid aperture 46 descends to a point below the' valve seat 35, major communication will exist between the sand chamber and the suction chamber, thus permittingl a rush of fluid into the suction chamber, the latter being at relatively low atmospheric pressure, while the sand chamber is at relatively high well pressure.

The passage of fluid from the sand chamber to the suction chamber will create suflicient suction in the sand chamber to draw sand through the bottom opening 26a in theI shoe and through the ports 26', if rthe latter are open, past the flap-valve -30 and into the sand chamber 20. This inflowl of sand and uid will cause the pressure inthe suction chamber 3 to be equalized with the presbailer is lifted from the well is relieved during elevatiomff'so that when the bailer reaches the surfacefthe ypressure in the suction lchamber will notbe dangerously high.

It'will be noted that by reason of the helical disposition of the'fluid ports 46, the area of the opening between the sand chamber and the suction chamber will be progressively increased during the last stage of movement of the piston 4l' downwardly, until finally the complete area ofl said openings is exposed for the passage of uid.

By this construction and operation, a bailer is provided which is precluded from premature opening, and, furthermore, the fluid way between the sand chamber and the suction chamber is kept restricted for a sulcient interval after the shoe has struck well bottom to insure that the shoe takes a firm bite in the sand, and thus the bailer is not likely to operate faultily and draw in only liquid. Furthermore, the progressive uid opening provided by the disposition of the apertures 46 insures that the bail'ershoe has takena solid bite in the sand before full communication is established between the sand chamber and the suctionchamber. On the other hand, the full force of impact of the bailer on a well bottom is availed of in opening the valve, as this force is utilized in starting the piston 4I toward -its open position, although, as stated above, major opening of the fluid way is delayed luntil termination of a predetermined time.

Obviously, the hollow rod 4I may be removed and another rod with ports 46 placed at different positions with respect to the valve seat may be provided in order to vary the interval of delay inthe major opening of the valve. Similarly, the

; lowermost of the ports 46 might be plugged in order to lincrease the interval of delay, or vary the area of fluid passage.

After the sand chamber 20 has become filledchamber 20 through the outlet ports 28 in the manner disclosed in the patent to Omar A. Cavins,

No. 1,917,211, July 4, 1933, the bailer being rested on its shoe resulting in the opening of the suction-sand chamber valve by reason of the weight of the suction chamber. In this connection', the built-up pressure in the suction chamber 3 will assist in the unloading of the sand.

' In Figure 7 a modication of the invention is shown wherein a hollow rod 53, having a valve member 5| at the lower end thereof, extends the entire length ofthe suction chamber 52 and beyond the upper end thereof as at 53 where vit is threaded into a top sub 54 which may be connected with the lowering line in any suitable manner. The upper end 53 of the hollow rod 50 is shown interiorly screw threaded to receive a tting 55 having a passage 56 therethrough, said `passage being controlled by a suitable spring pressed relief valve 51, the relief being accomplished through the side openings 58 in the top sub 54 leading from the relief valve.

In lieu of the enclosed spring 44 shown in the preferred embodiment of Figure 1, an outside spring 60 is' .utilized in the modified construction of Figure 7, this spring being mounted around Athe portion 53 of the hollow rod 50, and held at its ends between the lower face of the top sub 54 and the top of the suction chamber. Where the hollow rod passes out through the top of the suction chamber, it may be surrounded by a packing 62 compressed within the top cover 63 by the gland 63.

'I'he portion of the hollowA rod 50, which is located within the suction chamber 52, is provided with a plurality of apertures 64 which connect the interior of saidrod with the suction chamber. The lowermost of these apertures are adapted to move downwardly below the valve seat when the bailer is arrested in the well, as discussed in connection with the preferred embodiment, while the uppermost apertures 64 permit uid to flow from within the hollow rod out into the suction chamber 52. rod extends throughout the length of the suction chamber, by reason of the fact that it is in open communication with the suction chamber at all times, its interior formsa part of said chamber, and the volume of the suction chamber is not materially decreased by this arrangement.

In Figure 8 a construction similar to that of Figure 7 is shown, except that instead of using apertures in the hollow rod to pass below a valve seat carried by the sand chamber, a portion 68 of the hollow rod 61 is of reduced diameter between the points 68', this reduced portion being of sufficient length to bridge the bushing 69 which carries the valve seat 66 when the tool strikes a .major obstruction in the well, to permit fluid to flow up through the fluid way formed by the interior of said bushing and into the sand chamber 10. As in the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the hollow rod may be provided with apertures 1i, which maintain communication at all times between the interior of said rod and the suction chamber. Thus, as in the embodiment of Figure 7, while the hollow rod extends throughout the length of the suction-chamber, it does not diminish the volume of said chamber because of the connecting apertures 1I.

While I have shown in Figure 8, a hollow rod 61 reducedfin diameter between the points 68', and one having apertures 1| therein to permit constant communication between theinterior of the rod and the suction chamber, this embodiment ofV Thus, while the hollow the invention may be modified by making the rod 61 solid but with the portion of reduced diameter 58, or said rod may be hollow but not provided with the apertures 1l connecting the interior of the same with the suction chamber. In this modication of the embodiment, the valve 13 (hereinafter described) at the lower end of the rod would be dispensed with, and the lower end of said rod would be of the form shown ai; 5| in Figure 7.

The suction chamber 'may be provided with a suitable relief valve 12 which functions in an identical manner with the relief valve mounted in the aperture 5 in the embodiment of Figure l.

In the embodiment of Figure 8, I have shown an additional relief valve "I3, spring pressed upwardly against its seat to close an opening 'I4 from the sand chamber 'I5 to the interior of the hollow rod. This valve provides a relief from the suction chamber to the sand chamber, to supplement the protection' afforded by the relief valve 12, in that this valve 13 will operate when the bailer is elevated from the well to relieve dangerous pressures from the suction chamber into the sand chamber, in case the relief valve 12 fails to function to relieve the suction chamber to the outside of the tool.

As discussed above in connection with the preferred embodiment of Figure 1, the bailer is emptied on the well platform by placing the weight of the tool on the shoe to open the valve between the suction chamber and the sand chamber, with the sand chamber discharge ports 28 in open condition. It sometimes happens that due to sand getting in the sliding surfaces of the tool.

or more usually because of bending of parts of the tool in the well due to their great length, that the weight of the suction chamber will not be suiiicient to move the hollow rod downwardly to open the valve 'between the suction chamber and sand chamber, in order that the pressure in the former may assist in driving the contents of the sand chamber out through the outlet ports 28. In this event, the relief valve 13 may be relatively weakly held against its seat by adjustment of the retaining screw 16, and the pressure within the suctionchamber and the hollow rod will be sufficient to open-the valve and pass down into the sand chamber 'I5 and assist in clearing the same, even though the main valve between the suction and sand chambers is not opened by the weight of the former chamber.

If the lower part of the sand chamber becomes clogged, so that pressure in the upper part thereof remains high enough after the outlet ports 28 have been opened to restrain the hollow rod from moving downwardly when it is desired to unload the bailer, the relief valve i3, which is only lightly held upon its seat, will open under the higher pressure existing in the suction chamber to permit the fluid therein to flow into the upper part of the sand chamber and clear the same and drive the sand and other material out through the outlet ports. It will be apparent that the relief valve 13 will make vpossible this unloading operation under the conditions discussed above, even though pressure in the sand chamber due to clogging Prevents the downward movement of the hollow rod.

While I have shown the relief valve in the lower end of the hollow.rod associated only with the embodiment of Figure 8, it is obvious that this relief valve may be used in association with any of the other embodiments as desired.

In the embodiment of Figure 8, I have' shown a construction wherein a spring is used corresponding to the spring 60 of the embodiment of Figure 7. While the use of such a spring is desirable and is preferred, these bailers may be operated with reasonable efliciency without the use of a spring. 1

In Figure 9, a barrel is disclosed which denes a sand chamber 8|, the upper end of said barrel being partially closed as at 82, but recessed to permit passage therethrough of the hollow rod 84. Between the top of the barrel and the bushing 85, which forms the valve seat 86, suitable packing 8l is provided to maintain the seal of the suction and sand chambers. In this construction, the upper end of the hollow rod is secured to the lower end of a barrel 88 which forms the suction chamber. The construction of this embodiment will function without the provision of a'spring to assist in holding the valve on its seat, but, as stated above, a spring may be used as desired.

' Obviously, various changes of the constructions shown herein may be made without departing from the range of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a suction bailer, a barrel defining a sand chamber, a closed substantially air-tight suctio'n chamber, a valve seat carried by said barrel, a

valve member adapted to engage said seat to seal said suction chamber from said sand chamber, said valve member having a stem, a spring for maintaining said valve in sealing engagement with said seat when the bailer is being lowered into the well, said stem being adapted for telescoping movement with respect to said barrel against the force of said spring to move said valve from its seat and break said seal when the bailer encounters an obstruction in the well, and means carried by said stem for effecting major communication betwen said chambers after said seal is broken, said means being positioned on said stem for eecting major communication between said chambers after an appreciable movement of said stem with respect to said barrel, whereby the drawing of a charge into the bailer is delayed after the same encounters an obstruction in the well.

2. In a suction' bailer, a barrel defining a sand chamber adjacent the lower end of the bailer, a closed substantially air-tight suction chamber above said sand chamber, said barrel carrying a valve seat and having a bore above said seat.

a valve member adapted to engage said seat to seal said suction chamber from said sand chamber, said valve member having a stem above the same mounted for sliding movement in said bore, a spring for maintaining said stem in an upper position with said valve in sealing engagement with said seat when the bailer is being lowered into the well, said stem being adapted for downward movement in said bore against the force of said spring to move said valve from its seat and break said seal when the bailer encounters an obstruction in the well. and means I carried by said stem above said valve member v:for opening major communication between said chambers after said seal is broken, said means being spaced an appreciable distance above said valve member for opening major communication between said chambers when said stem moves downwardly in said bore a distance sumcient to expose said means below said valve seat, whereby the drawing of a charge into the bailer is delayed after the same encounters an obstruction in the well.

` valve member adapted to lengage said seat to support said barrel and to seal said suction chamber from said sand chamber, said valve member 'having a stem above the same mounted for sliding movement in said bore, said stem being connected with the bailer lowering line when the bailer is being lowered into the well, a spring for maintaining said Valve in sealing engagement with said seat when the bailer is being lowered into the lwell, said stem being adapted f or downward movement in said bore against the force of said spring to move said valve from its seat and break said seal when the bailer encounters an obstruction in the well'with consequent slackening of the lowering line, and means vcarried by said stem above said valve for opening Amajor communication between said chamclosed substantially air-tight chamber abovesai'd sand chamber, a valve seat carried by said casing bers after saidv seal is broken, said means being spaced an appreciablejdistance above said valve member to open major communication between said chambers when said stem moves downwardly in said bore a distance sufficient to expose said means below said valve seat, whereby the drawing of a charge into the bailer is delayed after thesame encounters an obstruction in the well.

' 4. In a suction bailer, a barrel defining a sand chamber adjacent the lower end of the bailer, a

closed substantially air-tight suction chamber above said sand chamber, said barrel carryinga valve seat and having a bore above said seat, a valve member adapted to engage said seat to seal said suction chamberfrom said sand chamber, said valve member having a hollow stem above the same mounted for sliding movement in said bore, the interior of'said stem being in communication with said suction chamber, a spring for maintaining said stem in an upper position with said valve in sealing engagement with said seat when the bailer is being lowered into the well, said stem being adapted fordownward move ment in said bore against the force of said spring to move said valve from its seat and break said seal when the bailer encounters an obstruction in the well, said stem having an inlet port through the wall thereof above said valve for opening major communication between said chambers after said seal is broken, said port being 'spaced an appreciable distance above said valve member to open major communication between said chambers when said stem moves downwardly in said bore a distance suillcient to expose said port below said valve seat, whereby the drawing of a charge into the bailer is'delayed after the sameencounters an obstruction in the well.

5. In a suction bailer, a casing including a sand chamber adjacent the lower end thereof, and a including a sealing surface and a bore above the same,avalve stem of substantial weight extending through said suction chamber and in slidable en`- gagement with ,said bore and having a '.valve member at its lower end to engage the sealing surface of said seat, a spring mounted on said casing for maintaining said stem in an upper position with said valve member in sealing engagement with the sealing surface of said seat when the bailer is being lowered into the well, said stem being adapted to move downwardly with respect to said casing by its own weight when the bailer encounters an obstruction in the well, and means on said stem spaced an appreciable distance above said valve member for opening major communication between 4said chambers when said stem moves downwardly in said bore a distance sufcient to expose said means below said valve seat; whereby the drawing of av charge into the bailer is delayed after the same encounters an obstruction in the well.

6. In a suction bailer, a casing including a sand .chamber adjacent the lower end thereof, and a closed substanially air-tight chamber above said sand chamber, a valve seat carried by said casing including a sealing surface and a bore on said casing above the same, a hollow valve stem of substantial weight extending through said suction chamber and in slidable engagement with said bore and having a valve member to engage the sealing surface of said seat at its lower end. a'spring mounted on said casing for maintaining said valve in an upper position with said valve member in sealing engagement with the sealing surface of said'seat when the bailer is being lowered into the Well, the interior of said stem being in communication with said-suction chamber and said stern being adapted to move downwardly with respect to said casing by its own weight when the bailer encounters an obstruction in the well, said stem having a 'port through the wall thereofy spaced an appreciable distance above said valve member for opening major communication between said chambers when said stem moves downwardly in said bore a suilicient distance to bring said port below said valve'seat, whereby the drawingr of a charge into the bailer is delayed after the same encounters an obstruction inthe A well.

sand chamber, a valve seat carried by said casing including a sealing surface, and a restricted bore on said casing above said seat between said chambers, a valve stem of substantial weight extending through said suction chamber and in slidable engagement with said bore and having a valve member at its lower end to engage the sealing surface of said seat, a spring mounted on said casing for maintaining said stem in an upper position with said valve member in sealing engagement with the 'sealing surface of .said seat when the bailer :is being lowered into the well, said stem being adapted to move downwardly with respect to said casing by its own weight when the bailer encounters an obstruction in the well, said stem having a reduced portion spaced an appreciable distance above said valve lmember and of suflicient extent to breach the restricted bore between said chambers, said reduced portion be- 'expose the lower end of said reduced portion below said valve seat, whereby the drawing of a charge into the bailer is delayed after the same encounters an obstruction inthe well.

PAUL CAVINS. 

